Re: Can Fritz Lang's M (1931) be considered a Horror film?

I wouldn't consider it horror, no. It may be about a child murderer but it doesn't play like a horror film; it doesn't try to scare you. Instead it plays more like a character drama, though an admittedly dark one.

Re: Can Fritz Lang's M (1931) be considered a Horror film?

It's also in a book I own called the Top 100 Horror Movies. It was probably influential towards horror movies, and it's portrayal of the main characters insanity was great (Peter Lorre is always great, but he really shines in the final scenes), but I agree, it just doesn't feel like a horror movie. It's a noir film, probably the first of its kind.